For students with chronic conditions that are episodic in nature, there may be periods of time in which they are unable to attend class due to periodic or unexpected flare ups. The purpose of this accommodations is to provide reasonable flexibility within attendance policies for students with qualifying chronic natured disabilities. However, this accommodation is always rendered in consultation with faculty, and it is the student’s responsibility to communicate directly with their professors their needs for occasional absences once accommodations are approved to establish a plan regarding the use of this accommodation. Students are also responsible for discussing all absences within a reasonable timeframe and establish deadlines for any missed work when applicable. However, in some circumstances students may not be able to give advanced notice of an absence related to their disability given the nature of chronic disabilities. In these situations, students must inform faculty as soon as possible to discuss possible options to make up their absence.
Students should understand that absences may negatively impact their academic performance because of the benefit that may be missed from the full classroom environment and interaction - students who have access to this accommodation are expected to keep up with their coursework (as with any student, it is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements and plan with their instructor or peers as it relates to obtaining notes, information, and making up coursework from any missed classes - faculty are not responsible to provide individual instruction or re-teach any missed course material). If absences become excessive, for any reason, it may be necessary for a student to seek a leave of absence, course withdrawal, or incomplete to prioritize their wellness or manage the personal circumstances that may be impacting their academics.
This accommodation does not mean that a student is given an indefinite number of occasional absences related to their disability and DSS does not approve a specific number of absences that a student is allowed to miss through the use of this accommodation. Rather, DSS defers this to faculty to determine how much flexibility in attendance is reasonable given the nature of the class structure/requirements and attendance flexibility should always be considered on an individual basis, allowing for a diligent and critical analysis of how attendance is essential to the class learning objectives and pedagogical components.
The accommodation should be provided unless the accommodation significantly compromises the integrity of the course as offered - faculty should consult with DSS if there are concerns.
To evaluate the extent to which attendance is critical to the essential learning objectives of a class, and to decide whether occasional absences can be reasonably implemented, faculty should consider the following points:
- What does the class description and syllabus say about attendance?
- How is the final class grade calculated? Is attendance factored into the final grade?
- Is the attendance policy consistently applied? (i.e.., Have there been any exceptions made to the policy for non-disabled students, such as for athletic travel or religious observances? If so, then these exceptions must also be granted to students with disabilities.)
- Is there significant interaction between the instructor and students, and among students? If so, how much?
- Do student contributions and participation in class constitute a significant component of the learning process? (i.e., discussion, presentations, role play, group work)
- To what degree does a student’s failure to attend class compromise the educational experience of other students in the class?